Last week’s “Art & The Creative Economy” conference combined with this week’s “Affair of the Arts” is proving that despite the challenging economy, arts can help build and shape our community.

We’re fortunate that both the towns of South Boston and Halifax now have art centers.

South Boston can be very proud of The Prizery, while Halifax now can boast of its Convergence Art Guild.

Virginians for the Arts (VFTA), an organization whose mission is to advance the arts in the state of Virginia, is showcasing how such arts organizations represent a valuable resource with potential to help stimulate the commonwealth’s economy and supplement K-12 education.

We believe of particular interest to our readers is VFTA’s focus on The Prizery:

“The Prizery is a regional community and fine arts center in South Boston, a town battered economically by the losses of textiles and tobacco. The Prizery’s 1902 Italianate building serves as home to a half-dozen civic and arts groups and the local Tourism Office. It enriches the region through performing, visual, and literary arts, and brings top-notch performances to the community. Since its award-winning 2005 renovation, The Prizery has spawned a renaissance in downtown’s historic warehouse district and increased its community and educational outreach efforts. Among its many programs are art, music, and movement classes for 200 at-risk public school, pre-K students, and an after-school program of music, dance, theatre, and the visual arts in cooperation with local schools, and its mentor/role model program.”

Earlier this year the National Governors Association released results from a new study that addresses the importance of “Using Arts and Culture to Stimulate Economic Development.” (See www.NGA.org.)

According to Virginians For The Arts Executive Director Trish Poupore, this study affirms that arts and culture provide direct economic benefits to communities  such as South Boston. 

The study notes that:
• Companies’ decisions about where to locate their businesses often are influenced by factors such as the ready availability of a creative workforce and the quality of life available to employees;

• Arts and culture can play a major role in community development and redevelopment by creating new jobs as well as fostering an environment and amenities that attract talented young workers; and

• Tourism centered on arts and culture can contribute to state and local economic growth by providing a diversified and sustainable means for creating jobs and attracting revenue.

Poupore explained that Virginians for the Arts works to build awareness of the importance of the efforts of Virginia’s state arts agency, the Virginia Commission for the Arts.

In 2009, the agency provided grants for operating support for more than 200 arts organizations throughout the state and more than 1,000 other types of grants that benefit teachers, students, local government, artists and the communities they serve.

The Virginia Commission for the Arts is the only entity in the state concerned about developing the arts industry as a whole and about making the arts available in all parts of the commonwealth, she added.

In 2008, the commission helped to make possible 39,943 arts events attended by more than 7.7 million people, including 1.9 million school children, according to Poupore.

Figures provided by the VFTA indicate that as of October 2009, Virginia’s arts agency was funded at 51 cents per capita, the lowest level of any state arts agency of its neighboring states: including (July 2009 figures) North Carolina at $1.18 cents, Maryland at $2.52, Kentucky at $.84, and West Virginia at $1.54.
With a grant from Altria, Poupore said VFTA is helping generate a better understanding among Virginians about the arts’ significant contributions to Virginia’s economy, educational system and quality of life.

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Congratulations to Tasha Dyer of Alton, the grand-prize winner of the first Southside Super Star Christian and Gospel Edition held in the Danville City Auditorium.

For her efforts she will receive an album recording, and Piedmont Access to Health Services (PATHS), a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide the citizens in Southside Virginia an integrated system of care, got some much needed funds.

Every vote cast for Tasha netted a dollar for this organization dedicated to providing the citizens of Southside, including both uninsured and underinsured, access to many health and hospital services regardless of their inability to afford them.

It was a win-win proposition for Tasha and PATHS.